Mechanism for retractable writing instruments



'Aug. 31, 1965 J. c. LOCKWOOD MECHANISM FOR RETRACTABLE WRITING INSTRUMENTS Filed Nov. 14, 1961 INVENTOR. John C. Lockwood 1 ll 'L A T TORNEY United States Patent 3,203,402 MECHANISM FOR RETRACTABLE WRITING INSTRUMENTS John C. Lockwood, Atlanta, Ga, assignor to Scripto, Inc, a corporation of Georgia Filed Nov. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 152,215 6 Claims. (Cl. 120-42.03)

This invention relates to writing instruments, and more particularly to an improved mechanism for alternately shifting a writing unit to and maintaining it at projected position and then returning it to retracted position upon successive manipulations of an actuator that is operably accessible at an opening located in the side of the barrel and wherein the actuator may include a pocket clip element which is in usual clipping position exteriorly of the barrel when the writing unit is retracted and which is displaced inwardly to an inoperative clipping position when the writing unit is projected.

Briefly described the present invention is characterized by a single piece actuator, that may include a clip element, operably accessible at a lateral opening formed in the barrel of the writing instrument; and a camway disposed within the barrel that is responsive to a manual force applied to the actuator for shifting said actuator forward and inward an amount suflicient to project said writing unit and house said actuator within the barrel opening, for releasably latching said actuator to maintain said writing unit at its projected position, and for fulcruming said actuator when in latched engagement whereby inward movement of the unlatched end of said actuator disengages said actuator to allow retraction of the writing unit and return of the actuator to its previous position at the lateral barrel opening.

It can readily be seen that the writing instrument disclosed in the present invention has a minimum number of parts which reflect in economy of manufacture and satisfactory performance.

These and other features of the present invention are described in further detail below in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, with portions in section, of a writing instrument incorporating the mechanism of the present invention and showing the writing unit at its retracted position and the clip element positioned exteriorly of the barrel;

FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal section showing the mechanism in latched engagement for maintaining the writing unit at its projected position and the clip element housed within the barrel, and further illustrating the manner in which the actuator may be released to allow return of the writing unit from projected to retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a partial front elevation, with portions in section, of the barrel of the writing instrument showing the camway disposed therein;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the actuator of the present invention that in this embodiment includes a clip element and is shown removed from within the barrel of the writing instrument; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the actuator shown in FIG. 4.

The embodiment of the writing instrument of the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings, has a barrel indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The barrel may be made of plastic and have a forward barrel portion 11 and a rear barrel portion 12. A writing unit 13, here shown as a ball point pen, is slidably arranged within the barrel Ill to shift longitudinally between rearwardly retracted and forwardly projected positions.

It should be noted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 where the writing unit 13 is shown it has been broken away to better illustrate the components of the mechanism of the present invention. The writing unit 13 is continuously biased rearwardly toward retracted position by a means, such as a coil spring 14, bottomed in the forward barrel portion 11 on shoulder 15, and bearing rearwardly therefrom against a shoulder 16 formed on the writing unit 13. The forward and rear barrel portions 11 and 12 as shown here are arranged for assembly in a convenient manner such as by releasable threaded engagement at 1'7, intermediate the length of the writing instrument.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1 it is seen that the rear barrel portion 12 is provided with a lateral barrel opening 18. Within the rear barrel portion 12 under the lateral barrel opening 13 and laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the barrel 10, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, is a continuous camway or ramp 20 having a forwardly inclined rear ramp portion 21 and intermediate ramp portion 22 that is formed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the writing instrument which provides a release fulcrum surface 23. The camway or ramp 20 is further provided at its forward end with a forwardly inclined ramp portion 24 terminating in a rearwardly inclined barrel latch shoulder 25. Disposed between the center bore 26 and the terminal interior 37 of the barrel It is a forwardly inclined writing unit guide surface 28 formed adjacent camway 20.

The actuator may be made of plastic and formed with a longitudinally disposed main platform portion 31, which may incorporate a clip element 32. The actuator 30 is further formed with a retaining tail 33 disposed at the rear thereof and a transverse writing unit stop 34 disposed intermediate the length of the main platform portion 31. The forward portion of the actuator 39 is provided with a fin 35 that is laterally disposed on the main platform 31 for cooperation with camway 20 formed within the barrel 1.6. The rear of the fin 35 terminates in a rearwardly inclined actuator latch shoulder 36, the innermost extremity of which is the forward follower 40 that cooperates with forward ramp portion 24. The forward portion of fin 35 is formed with an inwardly inclined writing unit guide 37, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, for leading the writing unit into engagement with stop 34. The rear follower R formed at the rear of actuator 30 cooperates with rear ramp portion 21. Follower R is also the rocker point for releasing the actuator 30 from latched engagement by virtue of its rocking on the fulcrum surface 23. Positioned between follower R and stop 34 of actuator 39 is a strengthening rib 38, and the forward portion of the main platform 31 has a longitudinal retaining shoulder 39 formed thereon.

It can readily be seen that the actuator 3% may be inserted for operation within the rear barrel portion 12 by slipping its forward end within lateral barrel opening 18 and allowing the retaining tail 33 to move under the rear extremity of the lateral barrel opening 18. The writing unit is placed within forward barrel portion 11 and then the forward barrel portion 11 is joined to rear barrel portion 12. When the writing unit is retracted, as shown in FEG. l, the actuator 30 is held within the barrel by retaining tail 33 and retaining shoulder 39 abutting the inner surface of the barrel 10 and the most rearward position being determined when the rear of the main platform 31 of actuator 30 abuts the rear of lateral barrel opening 18. It should be further noted when the writing unit is retracted the front of the actuator 30 carrying clip element 32 is stabilized against transverse inward movement by follower 40 resting on forward ramp portion 24.

To project the writing unit the following operation is necessary. A manual force is applied to the side of actuator 3t). The camway 20 is responsive to that manual force by guiding rear follower R of the actuator 30 down the rear ramp portion 21 and the forward follower 40 down the forward ramp portion 24. While the rear follower R is still riding the rear ramp portion 21 the forward follower 40 has run oft the forward ramp portion 24 bringing the actuator latch shoulder 36 beneath the barrel latch shoulder 25 and upon release of the manual force the rearward force of biasing means 14 moves the actuator rearwardly until the actuator latch shoulder 36 engages the barrel latch shoulder 25 formed at the forward portion of the camway 20. The latched engagement is maintained by the rearwardly directed force of the biasing means 14. It is readily seen that in this operation the actuator 30 is shifted forwardly a distance sufiicient to project the Writing unit 13 and inwardly a distance sufiicient to house the actuator 30 within the lateral barrel opening so that the clip element 32 is in an inoperative clipping position.

In the latched position, it can be seen that an inward force applied to the unlatched end of the actuator 30, a point rearwardly of the position of follower R, causes the actuator 30 to rock about the follower R on the release fulcrum surface 23, moving the actuator latch shoulder 36 out of engagement with the barrel latch shoulder 25. At this point the forward cam follower 40 clears and may rest on the forward ramp 24 and the actuator is moved rearwardly and outwardly under the influence of the biasing spring 14 to a position where the writing unit 13 is retracted and the actuator 30 is positioned within the lateral barrel opening 18 so that the clip 32 is exteriorly of the barrel 10 in clipping relation.

It should be noted as shown in FIG. 2 that in latched engagement an angle is formed between the rear ramp portion 21 and the rear of the actuator 30 and clip 32. This angle must be of size to allow a sufficient rotary movement of actuator 30 to disengage the actuator latch shoulder 36 from the barrel latch shoulder 25. Also, the position of retaining tail 33 should not cause any interference with the required rotary movement for releasing the actuator 30.

It should be noted in the above description of the operation that different parts of the camway or ramp 20 perform different functions and could be considered separate elements performing separate functions or a single element performing a plurality of functions.

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limited by this description or otherwise except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A retractable writing instrument comprising a barrel having a lateral opening in the rear portion thereof, a writing unit slidably housed within said barrel for shifting between forwardly projected and rearwardly, retracted positions with respect to the forward end of said barrel, biasing means within said barrel urging said writing unit toward retracted position, an actuator disposed within said barrel at said barrel opening with its rearward end being manually operable thereat and having formed on the inner face thereof a rearwardly facing latch shoulder spaced forwardly from said manually operable end with a rocker edge positioned intermediate of said latch shoulder and said manually operable end of said actuator, said actuator including a clip element positioned on the outer face thereof, a stationary camway disposed within said barrel that responds to a manual force applied to said actuator for guiding said actuator thereon inwardly and forwardly an amount sufficient to project said writing unit and house said actuator within said lateral barrel opening so that said clip element is in an inoperative clipping position, stationary latch means positioned within said barrel for engaging said actuator latch shoulder and releasably latching said actuator at its forward position to maintain said writing unit at projected position, and means disposed within said barrel for supporting said actuator rocker edge when said actuator is in latched engagement whereby inward movement of said manually operable end of said actuator fulcrums said actuator rocker edge on said barrel support means and disengages said actuator from said barrel latch means to allow retraction of said writing unit and return of said actuator to a position so that said clip element is in an operative clipping position exteriorly of said barrel opening.

2. A retractable writing instrument comprising a barrel having a lateral opening in the rear portion thereof, a writing unit slidably housed within said barrel for shifting between forwardly projected and rearwardly retracted positions with respect to the forward end of said barrel, biasing means within said barrel urging said writing unit toward retracted position, an actuator disposed within said barrel at said barrel opening with its rearward end being manually operable thereat and having formed on the inner face thereof a rcarwardly facing latch shoulder spaced forwardly from said manually operable end with a rocker edge positioned intermediate of said latch shoulder and said manually operable end of said actuator, said actuator including a clip element positioned on' the outer face thereof, stationary latch means positioned within said barrel for engaging said actuator latch shoulder and releasably latching said actuator to maintatin said writing unit at projected position, stationary means dis posed within said barrel that responds to a manual force applied to said actuator for guiding said actuator thereon inwardly and forwardly an amount sufficient to project said writing unit and house said actuator within said lateral barrel opening so that said clip element is in an inoperative clipping position and for supporting said actuator rocker edge when said actuator is in latched engagement whereby inward movement of said manually operable end of said actuator fulcrums said actuator rocker edge on said barrel means and disengages said actuator from said barrel latch means to allow retraction of said writing unit and return of said actuator to a position so that said clip element is in an operative clipping position exteriorly of said barrel opening.

3. A retractable writing instrument comprising a barrel having a lateral opening therein, a writing unit slidably housed within said barrel for shifting between forwardly projected and rearwardly retracted positions with respect to the forward end of said barrel, biasing means within said barrel urging said writing unit toward retracted position, an actuator disposed within said barrel at said barrel opening with its rearward end being manually operable thereat and having formed on the inner face thereof a rearwardly facing latch shoulder spaced forwardly from said manually operable end with a rocker edge positioned intermediate of said latch shoulder and said manually operable end of said actuator, said actuator including a clip element positioned on the outer face thereof, stationary latch means positioned within said barrel for engaging said actuator latch shoulder and releasably latching said actuator to maintain said writing unit at projected position, and stationary means disposed within said barrel that is responsive to a manual force applied to said actuator for guiding said actuator thereon inwardly and forwardly an amount sufficient to project said writing unit and house said actuator within said lateral barrel opening and for supporting said actuator rocker edge when said actuator is in latched engagement whereby inward movement of said manually operable end of said actuator fulcrums said actuator rocker edge on said barrel means and disengages said actuator from said barrel latch means to allow retraction of said writing unit and return of said actuator to a position eXteriorly of said barrel opening.

4. A retractable writing instrument comprising a barrel having a lateral opening therein, a writing unit slid ably housed within said barrel for shifting between forwardly projected and rearwardly retracted positions with respect to the forward end of said barrel, biasing means' within said barrel urging said writing unit toward retracted position, an actuator disposed within said barrel at said barrel opening with its rearward end being manually operable thereat and having formed on the inner face thereof a rearwardly facing latch shoulder spaced forwardly from said manually operable end with a rocker edge positioned intermediate of said latch shoulder and said manually operable end of said actuator, and stationary means disposed within said barrel that is responsive to a manual force applied to said actuator for guiding said actuator thereon inwardly and forwardly an amount sufiicient to project said writing unit and house said actuator within said lateral barrel opening; for engaging said actuator latch shoulder and releasably latching said actuator to maintain said writing unit at projected position, and for supporting said actuator rocker edge when said actuator is in latched engagement whereby inward movement of said manually operable end of said actuator fulcrums said actuator rocker edge on said means and disengages said actuator to allow retraction of said writing unit and return of said actuator to a position exteriorly of said barrel opening.

5. A retractable writing instrument as claimed in claim 4 and further characterized in that said means withiri the barrel that is responsive to a manual force applied to said actuator is a longitudinally extending inwardly projecting shoulder the rear portion of which shifts the actuator inward and forward, the forward portion of which engages said actuator latch shoulder and releasably latches said actuator, and the intermediate portion of which supports said actuator rocker edge when in latched engagement.

6. A retractable writing instrument as claimed in claim 4 and further characterized in that said actuator includes a clip element that is in an inoperative clipping position when said actuator is housed within said barrel opening and the writing unit is at projected position and that is in an operative clipping position eXteriorly of said barrel opening when the writing unit is retracted.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,881,736 4/59 Zepelovitch 42.03

2,988,055 6/61 Platt 120-42.03

3,051,131 8/62 Schwarzaugl 120-4203 3,071,112 1/63 Lovejoy et a1. 12042.03

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,226,397 2/60 France.

1,229,397 3/60 France.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE A. NINAS, ]R., CHARLES A. WILLMUTH,

JEROME SCHNALL, Examiners. 

4. A RETRACTABLE WRITING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A BARREL HAVING A LATERAL OPENING THEREIN, A WRITING UNIT SLIDABLY HOUSED WITHIN SAID BARREL FOR SHIFTING BETWEEN FORWARDLY PROJECTED AND REARWARDLY RETRACTED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE FORWARD END OF SAID BARREL, BIASING MEANS WITHIN SAID BARREL URGING SAID WRITING UNIT TOWARD RETRACTED POSITION, AN ACTUATOR DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BARREL AT SAID BARREL OPENING WITH ITS REARWARD END BEING MANUALLY OPERABLE THEREAT AND HAVING FORMED ON THE INNER FACE THEREOF A REARWARDLY FACING LATCH SHOULDER SPACED FORWARDLY FROM SAID MANUALY OPERABLE END WITH A ROCKER EDGE POSITIONED INTERMEDIATE OF SAID LATCH SHOULDER AND SAID MANUALLY OPERABLE END OF SAID ACTUATOR, AND STATIONARY MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BARREL THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO A MANUAL FORCE APPLIED TO SAID ACTUATOR FOR GUIDING SAID ACTUATOR THEREON INWARDLY AND FORWARDLY AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO PROJECT SAID WRITING UNIT AND HOUSE SAID ACTUATOR WITHIN SAID LATERAL BARREL OPENING; FOR ENGAGING SAID ACTUATOR LATCH SHOULDER AND RELEASABLY LATCHING SAID ACTUATOR TO MAINTAIN SAID WRITING UNIT AT PROJECTED POSITION, AND FOR SUPPORTING SAID ACTUATOR ROCKER EDGE WHEN SAID ACTUATOR IS IN LATCHED ENGAGEMENT WHEREBY INWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID MANUALLY OPERABLE END OF SAID ACTUATOR FULCRUMS SAID ACTUATOR ROCKER EDGE ON SAID MEANS AND DISCHARGES SAID ACTUATOR TO ALLOW RETRACTION OF SAID WRITING UNIT AND RETURN OF SAID ACTUATOR TO A POSITION EXTERIORLY OF SAID BARREL OPENING. 